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Re: Scientists discover Earth-like, water-rich planet: study

Originally Posted by danarhea

Since this planet is more than two and a half time the size of the earth, it's mass is therefore more than 6 times that of earth. Therefore, the boiling point of water is going to be much, much higher there, probably more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. So you can have liquid water that no carbon-based lifeform could ever live in.

Re: Scientists discover Earth-like, water-rich planet: study

Originally Posted by Scarecrow Akhbar

Atmospheric pressure.

Water boils at 100C on Earth at sea level because the air pressure is roughly 101,000 pa. It boils at a lower temperature in Colorado because the air pressure is lower, and it will boil at a higher temperature in Death Valley because the altitude there is below sea level.

What form of witchcraft is this!?

You know the time is right to take control, we gotta take offense against the status quo

Originally Posted by A. de Tocqueville

"I should have loved freedom, I believe, at all times, but in the time in which we live I am ready to worship it."

Re: Scientists discover Earth-like, water-rich planet: study

Originally Posted by Erod

How do they determine it has water? Not doubting it, just wondering what the indicator is.

From the article

We find that the planetary mass and radius are consistent with a composition of primarily water enshrouded by a hydrogen–helium envelope that is only 0.05% of the mass of the planet. The atmosphere is probably escaping hydrodynamically, indicating that it has undergone significant evolution during its history. The star is small and only 13 parsecs away, so the planetary atmosphere is amenable to study with current observatories.

Looks like density calculations. Not sure how they work it out. I would have thought a form of spectroscopy.

Last edited by Ikari; 12-17-09 at 01:07 PM.

You know the time is right to take control, we gotta take offense against the status quo

Originally Posted by A. de Tocqueville

"I should have loved freedom, I believe, at all times, but in the time in which we live I am ready to worship it."

Re: Scientists discover Earth-like, water-rich planet: study

Originally Posted by EpicDude86

Could usable oil come from non-carbon based organic lifeforms? Not that science has ever had to ask this, but I just wonder...

Science has asked that. There is a theory of non-organic oil production; but there's no way to really test it because I think it requires outrageous pressures and temp. I'd have to look it up again to see exactly what the theory states.

You know the time is right to take control, we gotta take offense against the status quo

Originally Posted by A. de Tocqueville

"I should have loved freedom, I believe, at all times, but in the time in which we live I am ready to worship it."